Kia Ora Access Manawatu
Concert treat
JUDITH LACY
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THE POWER OF TWO: Kia Ora FM and Access Manawatu are organising Monday's Waitangi Day concert
in The Square. Pictured are Lisa Check, from Kia Ora FM, and Fraser Greig, from Access Manawatu.
Photo: ROBERT KITCHEN/Fairfax NZ
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This year's Waitangi Day concert in The Square is a classic case of ebony and ivory.
Kia Ora FM and Access Manawatu have joined forces to organise the free family event.
It is the first time the two community stations have collaborated but they hope there
will be many more occasions.
The headline act is The Babysitters Circus, whose catchy song Everything's Gonna Be All
Right is No 19 in New Zealand Music Chart.
The band is Opshop's Jason Kerrison and Tim Skedden, Jasmie Greenslade (better known as
hip-hop artist Maitreya) and Selwyn Leaf.
Working with Kia Ora had been on Access station manager Fraser Greig's radar for some
time and the Waitangi Day concert made "perfect sense".
Kia Ora programme director Lisa Check had been thinking about the station's involvement in
2012 Waitangi Day celebrations and Destination Manawatu brought the two stations together.
"We have been running ever since, it's been great," Mrs Check said.
The concert is a community event run by community radio, she said.
Kia Ora FM has relationships with fellow iwi stations and it was nice to do the
same with other Palmerston North community stations.
Mr Greig said there was a raft of excellent community radio in Palmerston North – Access
Manawatu, Kia Ora, Radio Control and The Gramophone Room – which deserved to have a higher
profile than they did.
Community radio does not have the marketing budget commercial stations do so they need
to take every opportunity to promote themselves.
Mr Greig said Waitangi Day was a celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
and the two stations were joining forces to celebrate something intrinsically part of
New Zealand life.
"It's a collaboration, no one station is better than the other, everyone does what they
are best at and shares that with the other. There are no egos, which I'm thrilled with."
The concert was about bringing people together and the diversity of acts reflected that.
Mr Greig will stage-manage the concert, a role he is experienced in, and Kia Ora is
organising the powhiri.
Kia Ora host Peter Cleave will once again be the master of ceremonies and volunteers
from both stations will help on the day.
Opening the concert is Palmerston North Boys' High School student Josh Ellery, who has
made a name for himself with his covers on YouTube of latest hits.
Also performing are Tama K and the Creed, which brings soul and punk to its covers and
originals, and Tomorrow People, a Wellington eight-piece which performs "sunshine reggae".
The concert is in the events quadrant of The Square from noon till 4pm on Monday. There
will also be children's activities, craft and food stalls, and cultural exhibits.
- © Fairfax NZ News
© Manawatu Standard February 1st, 2012.
This material remains © Fairfax New Zealand Limited and is only to be used for non-commercial personal or research use. Any other use requires permission of the copyright holder.
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